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37. Beside Me
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Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 38. Hold On
We made our way to the dining hall, and just as the building came into view, my foot caught on a curb still hidden under the snow, sending me staggering forward. Adrien was quick, his arm shooting out to steady me. He wrapped his arm around me and didn't let go after that. Adrien was now doing it, too. This strange, protective closeness that was becoming all too familiar. His grip remained firm around my shoulders as we walked the rest of the way to the dining hall, despite my weak attempts to shrug him off a couple times. The dining hall was busy...too busy. The smell of boys, some freshly showered, others seemingly forgotten what a shower even is, hit me in the face. It seemed like the entire school was there, making it feel like we had walked into a chaotic storm about to explode. Students flocked around Adrien as if he was the gravitational center of the room. I tried to slip away, preferring the outskirts instead of being in the eye of the storm, but Adrien caught my arm.
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 39. Pushing the Pace
Coop descended the steps to the glass, where I could see him clearly. He had ditched the three-piece suit I'd seen him in last time for jeans and a dark hoodie. More like someone I might meet in a casual setting than the imposing figure I remembered. He gestured towards a secluded area by the wall where we could talk without being overheard. He did something unexpected as I approached. He leaned in and sniffed me. It was bizarre, to say the least. Drawing back, he locked eyes with me and said, "You have to use the stuff I sent you. You're only inviting trouble if you don't." "What are you talking about?" I asked, genuinely perplexed. He lowered his voice, glancing around before continuing. "A lot of the guys around you are starting to hit puberty, or already have, which can bring heightened senses. The shampoo will dull it." Heightened senses? Was he suggesting they could smell that I was a girl? That was all I needed...another source of constant anxiety. But how? They were
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 40. Mock
The coach had devised a mock game for tomorrow's lineup against the main practice team, turning today's session into a real-time simulation. It was a test of our skills and our ability to adapt on the fly. He kept Alec on the ice with me, assigning him to give me constant pointers. As we started, I noticed a change in Alec. He seemed to genuinely enjoy coaching me, and his demeanor was a far cry from the tension at the beginning of this. Maybe he wasn't as bothered as I had thought, or perhaps this was just his way of asserting control in a different way. Peter caught my eye from across the ice as we lined up for the mock opening face-off. He was grinning broadly, clearly thrilled to be out here playing, even if it was only on the practice team. However, that joy was overshadowed by the fresh bruise marring his face, dark and severe. It looked recent and painful. The mock game started, and I held my own for the first few minutes. Alec skated close by, offering tips and correctio
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 41. Orchestrated
"Just throw it over the one you already have on, James. You're going to need all the help you can get," Alec advised with a wry smile.Thankful for the solution's simplicity, I quickly layered Adrien's thicker shirt over my own. Within moments, Alec and Adrien were helping me suit up in goalie gear.As they adjusted straps and pads, they started to ease my nerves by diving into the details of the goalie position.Information I desperately needed.Alec began with the basics. "First thing, your stance is critical. Keep your knees slightly bent and your weight forward on the balls of your feet. This makes it easier to move side to side quickly," he demonstrated, his movements precise despite his bulky skates.Adrien chimed in, pointing at the leg pads. "These pads are your best friends. They'll absorb most of the impact, but you need to learn how to direct the puck safely away using them. It's about angling your legs at the right moment.""Puck control is key," Alec added, tightening a c
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 42. Change in Here
When the impromptu pizza party ended, the energy from the food and camaraderie seemed to inject new life into everyone as we returned to the mock game. I was now playing goalie, and Alec had returned to playing right wing. The perspective from the goal was fascinating and a bit mesmerizing. Now that I wasn't frantically trying to memorize the twin positions, I could appreciate the fluidity of their movements. Kris and Alec moved with a synchronized, almost hypnotic precision.I could see why they switched positions so frequently from my vantage point. It was Kris's way of managing Alec's playtime to prevent further strain on his knee. Their silent communication, a nod here, a slight gesture there, allowed them to swap effortlessly, ensuring Alec didn't overexert himself.With Peter absent, another practice squad member filled his spot. I had secretly hoped...really hoped...that Peter would join the lineup.As the practice progressed, I felt the toll on my body. I was exhausted, more
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 43. Slip Past
Lying down beside Alec felt awkward. He rolled over, turning his back to me almost immediately. I tried to relax, but my mind was spinning. Was this a test? Alec didn't seem the type to constantly test people like Adrien did, but maybe he was just more subtle about it. He was quick to offer to share his bed. Too quick. His reaction when other guys paid attention to me, first when I slept in Adrien's room and then with Jules increasingly showing me affection, was also telling. Could it be jealousy? As these thoughts seemed to chase each other around my mind, I heard Alec's breathing even out. He shifted, rolling onto his stomach, his face buried in his pillow with his arms buried under it. He was now lying much closer, his shoulder brushing mine as he shifted again. I could feel the heat radiating from his body. It was surprisingly comforting since I was already kicking myself for not grabbing my blanket before lying down. Before I knew it, the day's exhaustion took over, and
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 44. Anticipation and Balance
The chatter was already in full swing as I entered Sherman's class.Adrien leaned back in his chair, a wistful look on his face. "Man, I really miss just hanging out with girls. You know, someone to spend time with that doesn't smell like the damn locker room."Alec laughed, "Yeah, someone pretty to look at wouldn't hurt either. It's like a desert here."Kris nudged Alec, "Speak for yourself, I'm just plain horny. At this point, I wouldn't even care what they looked like. Anything's better than my hand."That drew laughter and nods, but Jules's response caught everyone's attention. "Or, you know, you could just switch teams. Plenty of options on this side." Nick huffed and rolled his eyes. The rest of the guys erupted in laughter. Adrien grinned. "Nah, that's your thing. We'll leave the guys to you, dude. We want the girls."Jules just smirked as he sat back and rested his arm on Bear's chair. "Your loss, gentlemen." Bear huffed and pushed his arm off his chair but then smiled at
Hockey Alphas - Pawns For Pucks 45. An Accident
I stood there fixated on the shirt. It was the one I'd worn to practice, unmistakably soaked with sweat from the last practice, and seeing it there literally froze me in my tracks. Adrien followed my gaze, and his expression instantly shifted from casual to flustered. "Oh, shit," he stuttered, the words tumbling out hastily, "that must have, like, come off my shirt when I dug it out of the hamper this morning. My bad." He quickly grabbed the shirt and stuffed it back into the hamper. This situation felt strangely manipulative, reminiscent of Adrien's typical tests. He always seemed to concoct those small, bizarre trials to gauge reactions or test loyalty. "Oh, so it was an accident?" I pressed, my tone sharp. He nodded, looking slightly uneasy. "Yes," he said. I continued, "Okay, so it was an accident , like you sleeping beside me the other night? I'm guessing that was an accident as well? " Adrien stopped short, his face turning serious. "Okay, so I should have probably told you
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